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No. 6",!99. Patented Sept. 20, I898. A. B. HENDRYX.

PROPAGATION 0F OYSTEBS.

(Application filed Feb. 7, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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a number of branches.

NITED STATES PATENT 0 FFICE.

ANDREW B. HENDRYX, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE A. B. HENDEYX COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PROPAGATION OF OYSTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,199, dated September 20, 1898.

Application filed February 7, 1898. Serial No. 669,407. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW B. HENDRYX, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in the Propagation of Oysters; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which drawing constitutes part of this specification and represents a side view of a single brush anchored in accordance with my invention.

This invention relates to an improvement in the propagation and cultivation of oysters in natural beds.

The present method most generally em ployed in propagating oysters is to catch the spat on oyster-shells or broken stone dumpe upon the surface of the oyster-bed.

As is wellknown, the oyster-spat first floats near the surface of the water and gradually settles and is caught by the shells or stones. It is equally well known that but asmall proportion of the spat is caught at all and that a large proportion of that whichis caught and allowed to set is lost by the washing of sand and mud over the bed by storms and currents and by devastation of starfish.

The objectof this invention is to provide surfaces above the bottom of the bed to whichthe spat will readily attach itself, and whereby the oysters will be supported above the bottom of the bed and therefore out of reach of starfish, which it is believed do not attack oysters unless resting upon the bottom of the bed; and the invention consists in temporarily anchoring or otherwise securing masses of brush, which when first set out will float upright in the water, and hence be in a position to catch the spat as it is drifted about through the water by the currents.

In carrying out my invention the size of the bush or brush A will depend upon the depth of the water into which it is placed, and preferably I shall employ brush having Each brush is sethe water.

water the several branches will catch the oyster-spat as it drifts through them, and hence the catch will greatly exceed that which is now secured upon the bottom of the beds. As the brush readily yields to the various currents, it is thought that but a small proportion of the spat or set will be washed away, and as it is supported entirely above the bottom of the bed it cannot be covered with sand or mud. As the oysters increase in size, and consequently in weight, the brush will at the same time become water-soaked and settle down upon the bed D, and, as is well known, material of this kind soon becomes embedded in the sand or mud," and in case the anchor becomes detached owing to corrosion or the decay of wood the brush will be securely held on the bed. Preferably the anchor B will consist of athin metallic shell filled with sand, and to which shell the chain C may be attached, and so that in course of time the shell will corrode, and therefore not obstruct or litter the surface of the'bed. The chain, wire, or other connection will also be destroyed in time by corrosion, which in salt water is very rapid. As the majority of oysters thus caught are supported above the bed they will be out of the reach of starfish, and hence the necessity of dredging for those fish will be avoided. It will therefore be seen that the number of oysters finally secured will be largely in excess of that now grown and the expense of cultivation will be materially decreased. The facility for gathering the oysters will also be increased, as it will only be necessary to catch the brush or bush in order to raise the oysters attached thereto.

I am aware that in artificial beds brush has been suspended from the top of the water for the purpose of catching oyster-spat. I am also aware that brush or similar material has been attached to a plate or screen and located directly upon an oyster-bed. I am also aware that screens or sheets of flexible material have been supported in the oyster-beds and coated with an adhesive material for the purpose of catching oyster-spat, and I do not therefore wish to be understood as claiming, broadly, the idea of supporting a brush or other device in oyster-beds; but,

Having fully described my invention, what 10 surface of the bed and become embedded therein, and so as to be held independent of the anchor, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDRE'W B. IIENDRYX. 'Witnesses:

FERDINAND A. WAGNER, EDWARD N. PEOK. 

